[butt_ugly_cowboy]

I'm gonna be huntin elk and such later and was wonderin what yall recomend as a good rifle. I aint recoil sensitive, so... yeah. Thanks in advance!

[Cosmoline]

What's the "and such"? Just North America or Africa too? A .338 WM will cover everything in this state (AK) and North America. But I've heard it's below the minimum caliber requirements for some African game departments. You can't go far wrong anywhere with a CZ 550 Safari in .375 H&H.

[Harve Curry]

You can't go wrong with a 30-06 and 180 grainers. Get what feels good, fits you, and you can shoot accurately.
Constructed bullets can make a difference to, a hard tracking job vs fell dead in it's tracks.
Have a good hunt.

[crebralfix]

45-70
308 Winchester
30-06

All will do it at reasonable ranges if you do your part.

[H&Hhunter]

.30-06

.338WM

.300 WM

.375H&H

In that order for your requirements.

[rcmodel]

I aint recoil sensitive, soYes you are.
You just don't realize it yet!

rcmodel

[butt_ugly_cowboy]

LOL rcmodel ya sound like my Uncle!

[butt_ugly_cowboy]

So what do yall think, Mossberg 100 ATR? Or...

[homers]

338 Federal

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

You can't go wrong with a 30-06 and 180 grainers.

ThisiswhatI'msayin..... Turnbolt.... you got caliber decided and ready to talk rifle now? :) What's the rifle budget, without tax, FFL fees, scope, rings, sling or anything?

[dakotasin]

338 win mag will do it all.

[butt_ugly_cowboy]

Rifle budget? I'd say $500. Aint much, I know. I might be able to stretch it just a little more...

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Well, there's a lot of ways you can go...

Do you have to have new, or are you willing to buy used? Is American made important to you?

If you're running new, the $500 is on the budget side, so that means you're gonna want to look at Stevens, Savage, Howa, Vanguard, CZ 550, Tikka T3, Mossberg 4x4, or SPS 700 Rem. Or do you want to run with something besides a turnbolt (which would be against my advice)? :) Of those, the Stevens, Savage, and Mossberg are American made. The CZ has the nicest feel, fit, finish of these. The Savage or Tikka may be a bit more accurate than the others, but they will all have plenty good hunting accuracy.

If you're buying used, you can grab a nice Remington, Winchester, or Browning for that price. The Brownings are very nice generally, as are certain Remington 700s, like the CDL. All of the latter 3 are American made as well.

I have a few hunting rifles, most of which I got used at gun shows, but some of which I got new at gun shops around town. Do you go to gun shows?

As a starting point, which might or might not help you....The rifles I have which I consider proper for very large game like elk/moose are:
-Sporterized US 1917, .30-'06
-CZ 550 FS, 9.3x62mm
-Marlin 1895, .45-70
-Savage 110E, .270 win
-Sporterized No. 4 Mk 1 SMLE, .303 Brit

Particularly the first 3.

If you can swing just around $600 plus some xfer fees and shipping, then you can get a beautiful Rem 700 CDL, new, in .35 Whelen, with Rem's new recoil pad, at this place:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=187359

which is is an outstanding rifle and cartridge for very big animals.

[Shawnee]

Buy a used Remington Model 7 in 7mm/08 - lightweight gun, emminently suitable caliber, choices of very effective bullets/ammo - add the scope of your choice, and you're all set.
Well... you're "all set" if you want to "hunt Elk and such", anyway.

If you want to show everyone you're putting up with a lot of unnecessary recoil and blast and expense, and that your mind is about Y1955-Compliant - get the 30-ought-knucklehead or one of the other pumpkin-launchers.


P.S. "RCModel" is right about the recoil.;)


:cool:

[Regolith]

If you're budget doesn't include what you can afford to spend on a scope, consider getting a Savage or a Remington 700 SPS in .30-06. I picked up my 700 for $490. Savages can be had for around $350-400 or so, IIRC.

However, if your budget includes money for a scope, my suggestion is to go with the Stevens, or consider the new Marlin XL7. Both can be had for around $300, which gives you another $200 for a scope. You'll pretty much be restricted to .30-06 for the Marlin XL7, though, as it's the only caliber they chamber them in that's really good for elk.

[MCgunner]

.308, .280, anything with a belt, some of the short mags. There's a lot to choose from. I have a 7 mag I'd probably take, but if in rough country, I might rather tote my M7 in .308. I have it covered with either of those, though, really. I'd say anything from .270 up on the naught six case, 7-08 up on the .308 case. Anything with a belt from 7 rem Mag up. Some say .260 or .264 Win Mag, but I don't like it, a little small. I know all about the sectional density thing. I'd still rather have a 7mm or larger bullet. I know they kill 'em with 6.5x55 in Europe, save your breath. It's just me. I don't need the light recoil, am a big boy. I'm quite accurate with belted magnums and don't believe in "too much gun", just believe in having more'n enough and elk are big animals. I might go with a 264 Win Mag, but I'll let the girls settle for the .260s. <ducking bricks from the women> :D

[conwict]

<ducking bricks from the women>

*crickets*

(just kidding)

[uk roe hunter]

if i was in america and looking for a rifle to shoot big things with i would buy a remmy 700 sps in .30-06 sprg and mount a bushnell trophy scope on it. I would use ironsighter mounts from midway and probably only spend $550usd. I would load up some 180 or 200 gr partitions of really big stuff and 165 gamekings for everything else.

steve

[mbt2001]

I have always been a big fan of the .257 roberts...

Can't go wrong with a .308 though.

[Art Eatman]

The Tulsa gunshow is one of the largest there is. The schedule is usually shown at the Shotgun News website.

[MCgunner]

I have always been a big fan of the .257 roberts...

Can't go wrong with a .308 though.

My only rifle was a .257 Roberts when I thought I was going to get to go on an elk hunt that never materialized. Well, I wanted a new rifle anyway, and bought the 7mag in order to have something adequate for elk. I'm sure a well placed shot with a 117 grain Hornady interlock at a MV of 3050 fps or a Barnes bullet would kill an elk, but it's a bit light, like the .260 actually, for my tastes on such a big animal. I wanted something with more horsepower. I have a .308 now and it's plenty to 300 yards. Had I had the .308 at the time, I'd probably not bought the big 7, but it's kinda cool, definitely a cannon, and being a Savage, I could buy and install a .338 win mag barrel if I wanted a real cannon. LOL I don't really NEED the 7 unless I go west to chase elk or something, though. Ain't any man eating bears around here. Not sure why I'd want a .338 except just to HAVE one.

[leathermanwave]

I aint recoil sensitive

Have your buddy load your gun and then shoot it. Tell him to not load it once. So your buddy loads up your gun you shoot it, he loads it again you shoot again, he loads again you pull the trigger and all you get is a click your crosshairs will be shaking all over the place. If they are not you aint recoil sensitive.


Get a 3006.

[charby]

.30-06

[MCgunner]

Have your buddy load your gun and then shoot it. Tell him to not load it once. So your buddy loads up your gun you shoot it, he loads it again you shoot again, he loads again you pull the trigger and all you get is a click your crosshairs will be shaking all over the place. If they are not you aint recoil sensitive.

I ain't recoil sensitive. I know this routine. I showed my son-in-law why he was shooting low with his .44 Redhawk the other day by loading 3 for him, spaced. It's how I got over the magnum flinch thing with magnum revolvers many years ago and contenders in massive calibers like .45-70.

I ain't a greenhorn to recoil. The trigger always surprises me when it breaks. It should not be anticipated. That's where flinch comes from, concentration on other than sights and progressive squeeze of the trigger. Funny thing, too, in the field, when there's game in the crosshairs, the rifle always seems to fire itself. :D I never seem to feel much recoil, either, not near as much as off the bench. Marksmanship takes practice, though, like anything else.

So, if you think you're sensitive, this is a good routine to find out. But, remember, once you can shoot the gun and KNOW you're not flinching, it's tougher to get groups off a bench than to shoot game in the field, or at least that's been my experience. If you can master the bench and off hand shooting at the range, you won't even have to think about the shot in the field. It'll come natural.

[Shawnee]

"Keep your church out my government and I'll keep my governement out of your church."


This statement seems substantially out of place on this thread and these forums.... at least to me it does. Maybe Art feels differently.

:cool:

[homers]

If you "ain't recoil sensitive" then just get any 30 cal magnum and shoot away.

[snowpro440]

yes get a 300 wsm with a recoil compensator ... its the best:neener:

[ojibweindian]

Assuming you're just going to be hunting within the CONUS, and you're not going to go after the big bears, I'd say just about any centerfire cartridge .257" diameter or above will do, depending on your level of shooting and hunting skills, of course.

Also, assuming that your $500 includes rifle and scope, a Stevens 200 is quite likely your best bet. Get one for $265 (before tax) then sink the remainder on a scope.

[mbt2001]

MC - I know what you mean about not feeling recoil when hunting... I also don't hear the shots either. I do, but very faintly and no ring afterwords.

The one exception to this is duck hunting. I don't care who you are, shooting 25 - 50 rounds of the "magnum" 12 gauge high brass waterfowl rounds will get old fast. Part of it, is the anlges that you have to shoot at I think.

[Franco2shoot]

Remington Model 7 in .308 Winchester. Lightweight but heavy hitter.
KKKKFL

[kmrcstintn]

traditional: .300 Winchester Magnum; newer: .300 Winchester Short Magnum; outrageous: .300 Weatherby Magnum (if you like pain & suffering :evil:)

had: Tikka T3 Hunter in .300 Winchester Magnum (should have kept it, buried it, mounted a better recoil pad, and installed a muzzle brake)

have: Reminton 700 SPS in .300 WSM (already had a Limbsaver recoil pad and someone already installed a muzzle brake)

I think the Tikka T3 has more pizzazz, but I wanted something more managable & I sold it too quickly; the Remington 700 SPS fell into my lap already setup and became my second chance at a good .30 cal magnum rifle

[ojibweindian]

Where can one find a T3 or Model 7 for under $500, complete with scope? The main known requirement is for a rifle under $500.

[uk roe hunter]

i think you will struggle to buy either of those rifles new for that money. second hand might be an option.

uk

[ojibweindian]

Struggle? One would have to be lucky as all get-out to find a Model 7 or T3 for under $500.:D

The OP, for under $500, can buy a new Savage Stevens for under $300 (after tax), and put on a decent scope for about $200 (a Bushnell 3200 3x9 or Bushnell 4200 3x9). He'd have a great rifle and a quality scope, for not a lot of dough.

[jmr40]

Any of the 300 mags if recoil is not a factor are just about perfect.

[MCgunner]

MC - I know what you mean about not feeling recoil when hunting... I also don't hear the shots either. I do, but very faintly and no ring afterwords.

The one exception to this is duck hunting. I don't care who you are, shooting 25 - 50 rounds of the "magnum" 12 gauge high brass waterfowl rounds will get old fast. Part of it, is the anlges that you have to shoot at I think.

Yeah. I shot a double for years, damned thing weighs about 6.5 lbs, full 3" magnums for geese and ducks. I was young and dumb. Thing beat the hell outta me. LOL! I got a mossberg when steel shot got mandated about 1980 and a new camo one about 1990. The thing would cut my face, especially on crossing shots shooting to my weak side. Like ya say, you can get some odd shot positions when your feet are stuck in the mud and the teal come flying in before sun up, never at an easy angle.

Last season, I greatly improved that shotgun, though, and it's almost fun to shoot now! I learned about increasing drop at comb with shims from this site. I did that, gun never fit me right, now it's perfect. And, perfect fit makes all the difference in the world in felt recoil on a shotgun AND my shot percentage has gone up. I shoot 2 3/4" mag steel on ducks from my Winchester 1400 auto, man, soft on the shoulder, a dream to shot, and it fit me right out of the box, but the magnum loads are mandatory in heavy shot loads for geese out of the mossy. Since fitting that thing to me, I'm no longer really thinking about a gas gun in 3" or 3.5". I actually like it again. :D Fit makes all the difference.

Remington Model 7 in .308 Winchester. Lightweight but heavy hitter.

That was MY choice. :D

http://thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=46438&d=1161033689

[lgbloader]

300 Weatherby Magnum.

[uk roe hunter]

what sort of money does a remmy 700 sps sell for in america?

on the site of remmy they are $620 usd, (£310 gbp) sorry i got it a bit wrong i remembered they were cheap for you guys, but not under $500.

here i could buy one for £500 (gbp) a real good value rfile

[TCB in TN]

Having had and shot hunting grade Brownings, Weatherbys, Remmys, Winchesters, and Rugers along with some of the more bargain brands such as the Mossy, Savage, and Stevens I would say spend less money on gun (My preference is the savage although the Mossy ain't bad either) in the cal of your choice and spend more money on glass and ammo. Shot placement is king and trigger time does more to improve that in the field than the couple hundred extra dollars spent between the Savage/Mossy (new) and a (new) Remmy 700.

BTW if you decide to stay in the 30-06 group then it is likely that you might find a good lightly used setup with an OK pc of glass in the $300 range. Spend the rest on ammo and learn to shoot your gun.

[T.R.]

Double barrel 12 gauge and a pair of bib overalls. Shoes are optional.

TR

[hobgob]

what about this new rem. 700 in .300 rem ultra mag with power level ammo?

[lgbloader]

I reach for my faithful 300 Weatherby Magnum. Although I now have my 338 RUM shooting quarter size hole groups at 100 yards.

[MCgunner]

what about this new rem. 700 in .300 rem ultra mag with power level ammo?

All that short mag, ultra mag stuff is okay if you handload. Some of it has a rather hefty ammo price, though. I can see the utility in the short magnums in hunting rifles. Still, if you don't handload, you might can afford to shoot more with a traditional (popular) caliber. I handload and STILL prefer my .308. I have a 7 mag I haven't fired in 10 years. It don't kill deer or hogs any deader. .308 is my favorite Texas caliber. If I lived out in the canyon country I might change my mind, but I don't know. .308 will shoot as far as I wanna shoot. It'll take elk sized game to 300 yards with a good bullet well placed.

[Tom Krein]

All the recommendations are good ones! They will all work...

For me its the .35 cal bullets. I like the .35 Whelen in a bolt gun and .358 Winchester in my browning BLR (a savage lever would be just as good).

Less recoil and noise than the big .338 and .30 magnums.

Tom

[butt_ugly_cowboy]

Well, I need rifle sites cuz I dont use scopes very often, so name some 30-06's or .223's with sites, if yall would.

[Regolith]

If you want sights, then your choices are going to be more limited.

I believe the Remington 700 BDL comes with iron sights, but it's a bit out of your price range. You might be able to find a used one, however. The Remington 7600 also comes with iron sights; it's a pump action with removable magazines, and goes for around $500 or so for the synthetic stock version.

Savage also has some with iron sights, but the only ones that I could find on their site is $600 or more. You might be able to find a used one of those, though.

Problem is, everyone these days seem to be making clean barrels with the exception of their more expensive models. So you either got to buy used or get something like the Rem. 7600 (which ain't bad, btw), or hope you get lucky and find a place with some realy old stock.

[MCgunner]

The .223 is the best big game caliber in existence. For proof, see this thread.....http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=380013